Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum Plant Named &#39;PIILC-II&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Loropetalum chinense  var.  rubrum  plant named ‘PIILC-II’, characterized by its compact, mounded, spreading growth habit; rich ruby-red new growth maturing to purplish green foliage that persists through summer and winter; bright reddish pink flowers in spring; and improved cold hardiness compared to other compact purple-leaf cultivars.

GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PIILC-II’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLoropetalum chinense var. rubrum, a member of the Hamamelidaceae family,hereinafter referred to by its cultivar name ‘PIILC-II’. This cultivaris grown primarily as an ornamental for landscape use and for use as apotted plant.

The cultivar originated from an open-pollination of Loropetalum chinensevar. rubrum ‘Chang Nian Hong’ (not patented) in Watkinsville, Ga. in2008, and was selected from the progeny seedlings of this cross bycontinued evaluation for growth habit and improved foliagecharacteristics. The cultivar originated and was discovered in acultivated environment in an outdoor nursery in Watkinsville, Ga.

‘PIILC-II’ has been asexually reproduced by softwood cuttings since 2009in Athens, Ga. and in Watkinsville, Ga. The characteristics of thecultivar have been stable and reproduced true to type in successivevegetative generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘PIILC-II’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with changes in light,temperature, soil and rainfall without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. In combination thesecharacteristics distinguish ‘PIILC-II’ from all other varieties incommerce known to the inventor. 1) Compact, mounded, spreading growthhabit. 2) Rich ruby-red new growth maturing to purplish green foliagethat persists through summer and winter. 3) Bright reddish pink flowersin spring. 4) Improved cold hardiness compared to other compactpurple-leaf cultivars.

‘PIILC-II’ is distinguished from its female parent ‘Chang Nian Hong’ byits growth habit and foliage color. ‘PIILC-II’ has a compact mounded,spreading growth habit reaching only 170 cm×224 cm after 3 years,whereas ‘Chang Nian Hong’ has an overall larger, rounded growth habit.‘PIILC-II’ has rich, ruby-red new growth maturing to purplish greenfoliage that persists through summer and winter, whereas ‘Chang NianHong’ has duller red-purple foliage that will become greenish purple dueto stress in summer and winter. There are no other cultivars ofLoropetalum chinense var. rubrum with this combination of traits knownto the inventor.

‘PIILC-II’ can be compared to the cultivar ‘Shang-hi’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 18,331) but is distinguished by its growth habit, foliage color, andflower color. ‘Shang-hi’ has a dense, upright, globose habit, darkpurple foliage, and dark pink flowers, whereas ‘PIILC-II’ has a compact,mounded, spreading growth habit, rich ruby-red new growth maturing topurplish green foliage, and bright reddish pink flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying illustrations show characteristics of the new cultivarin photographs as true to color as is reasonably possible to make inillustrations of this nature. Colors in the photographs may differslightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription which accurately describe the colors of the new Loropetalum.

FIG. 1 illustrates the growth habit of a ‘PIILC-II’ plant growing in theground.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up of the flowers of ‘PIILC-II’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thedescription were approximately 2 and a half years old and were grown in11.8 L containers under outdoor conditions in Watkinsville, Ga. Colorsare described using the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart(R.H.S.).

-   Botanical classification: Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum, cultivar    ‘PIILC-II’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent: Loropetalum chinense    var. rubrum ‘Chang Nian Hong’ (not patented). Male, or pollen,    parent: unknown (open-pollinated). Propagation: Type cutting:    terminal cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer: about 35 days at    32 C°.-   Plant description:    -   -   Flowering shrub.—compact, mounded, spreading growth habit.            Freely branching; pruning enhances lateral branch            development.        -   Root description.—numerous, fine, fibrous and well-branched.        -   Plant size.—the original plant, now about 4-years-old in the            ground, is about 170 cm in height from the soil level to the            top of the foliage, and about 224 cm in diameter. First year            stems have a diameter of about 1 mm. Shape: round. Color:            187A. Pubescence: heavily stellate. Second year and older            stems have a diameter of about 3 mm or more. Shape: round.            Color: 199B. Pubescence: none.        -   Trunk diameter.—about 4 cm at the soil line. Color: 199A.        -   Internode length.—about 1.4 cm.        -   Strength.—flexible when young, easily broken once mature.        -   Bark.—exfoliates in flakes beginning on second or third year            stems.-   Vegetative buds: Alternate in arrangement, imbricate, with stellate    pubescence. Color: 185B. Size: about 1 mm in length and 1 mm in    width.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—alternate, simple. Length: about 2.4 cm. Width:            about 1.7 cm. Shape: ovate-rounded. Apex: pointed. Base:            oblique. Margin: finely toothed.        -   Texture (upper and lower surfaces).—sandpaper like            pubescence.        -   Venation pattern.—pinnate. Venation color in developing            foliage (upper and lower surfaces): 187A. Venation color in            fully expanded foliage (upper surface): N186A. Venation            color in fully expanded foliage (lower surface): 59B.        -   Color in developing foliage (upper and lower            surfaces).—187A. Color in fully expanded foliage (upper            surface): N186A. Color in fully expanded foliage (lower            surface): N77C.        -   Petiole length.—about 3 mm. Petiole diameter: about 1 mm.            Petiole color: 187A. Pubescence: stellate.-   Flower description: Flowers are produced in April in Watkinsville,    Ga. and sporadically until frost. An inflorescence is showy for    about two weeks, and individual flowers last about two to three days    and are self-cleaning.    -   -   Inflorescence type.—umbel produced from leaf axils and            terminally. Inflorescence length: about 2.6 cm.            Inflorescence width: about 3.4 cm.        -   Peduncle.—about 3 mm in length, about 1 mm in diameter,            color is 187A, with stellate pubescence.        -   Flower buds.—Length: about 4 mm. Diameter: about 2 mm.            Color: 187D.        -   Calyx.—about 6 mm in length, about 3 mm in diameter, color            187D, with stellate pubescence.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement/appearance.—4 per flower.        -   Petal length.—about 2.4 cm.        -   Petal width.—about 2.2 mm.        -   Petal shape.—strap-shaped. Petal apex: acuminate. Petal            margin: entire. Texture: smooth.        -   Petal color.—upper and lower surfaces are 60B.-   Stamens:    -   -   Quantity/arrangement.—4 or 5 stamens, 1.5 mm long, 0.3 mm in            width, and 187B in color. Pollen: produced in very small            quantities and is 158A in color.-   Pistils:    -   -   Quantity.—One or two inferior pistils per flower.            Pubescence: none. Pistil length: about 2.5 mm in length.            Pistil color: 60A. Stigma: rounded, 60A in color. Style: 1            mm in length and 60A in color. Ovary: 1.5 mm in length, 1.5            mm in diameter, and 60A in color.-   Fruit:    -   -   Type/appearance.—woody, two-valved, ovoid capsule. Length:            about 6 mm. Diameter: about 4 mm. Mature color: close to            200C. Each capsule contains one or two seeds that are about            5 mm long, 2 mm wide, and close to 200A in color. A mature            plant will produce 25 to 50 fruits.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum plantnamed ‘PIILC-II’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.